It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
